"Because It's Numbing and Addictive, I Drank It..." Why Mala Soup Broth Is Not Eaten in China [China Spotlight]

Broth Much Spicier and Saltier Than Korea
"High Sodium and Fat Content, Caution Advised"

Mala Tang and Hot Pot are among the representative dishes that have entered Korea from China, but the ways of eating them differ slightly between the two countries. In Korea, where soup dishes are well developed, people tend to drink the broth of Mala Tang and Hot Pot, whereas in China, it is known that the broth is rarely consumed. In Chinese Mala Tang and Hot Pot dishes, the broth is mainly used for blanching ingredients and is not drunk because it contains much higher levels of salt, seasonings, and fat, making it difficult to consume for health reasons. In contrast, Mala Tang and Hot Pot sold in Korea, where localization has been extensively carried out, are recognized as soup dishes.

Chinese People Do Not Drink Mala Tang and Hot Pot Broth

When searching on the Chinese portal site Baidu for 'why not drink Mala Tang broth,' related queries such as 'Why shouldn't I drink Mala Tang broth?' 'What happens if I drink Mala Tang broth?' and 'Is Mala Tang broth bad for health?' appear. On the health management platform Baidu Health, searching for 'drinking Mala Tang broth' yields 3,876,955 questions and answers.

Most questions are about whether it is okay to drink Mala Tang broth and its relation to health. Nutritionist Zhou Weiping said, "It is okay to drink it, but since Mala Tang broth contains seasonings such as Sichuan pepper, chili, salt, and monosodium glutamate, it is high in calories and fat, so it is better to consume it in moderation."

Questions and answers about Hot Pot broth also reach about 5,420,066. There are shared concerns about the health effects of Hot Pot broth and ways to eat it healthily. Professor Pan Yongyuan of the School of Medicine at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University in Beijing, said, "It is okay to drink Hot Pot broth, but since it is hot, it can be irritating to people with sensitive stomachs or gastric ulcers."

He also mentioned that the basic ingredients of Hot Pot contain high levels of salt and seasonings, so excessive consumption is not good for health. Increased intake of body fat can be harmful to cardiovascular health. Professor Pan emphasized, "It is important to consume plenty of vegetables and beans while controlling the intake of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods such as meat and seafood." Professor Zhang Yuanyuan of Peking University People's Hospital said that it is okay to drink the broth from the first boil of Hot Pot, but it is better not to drink broth that has been boiled repeatedly. Repeated boiling of salt, vegetables, and meat in the broth can produce nitrates and nitrites, which may cause cancer. She also warned that the high fat and calorie content is very harmful to the human body.

Besides health issues, culturally, Chinese people tend not to drink Mala Tang and Hot Pot broth. At one time, a meme-like expression circulated on Chinese social networking services (SNS) saying "someone who even drinks Mala Tang broth," which is used as an insult meaning someone is incompetent and poor enough to drink the broth. Generally, Chinese people eat only the solid ingredients such as vegetables, meat, and noodles when eating Hot Pot (火鍋) and do not drink the broth. Mala Tang broth consumption varies by region and individual preference, but most do not drink it.

In contrast, Mala Tang available in Korea has been localized to allow drinking the broth. It is based on a beef bone broth to suit the domestic food culture that prefers soup. Additionally, less spices and chili oil are added compared to China, reducing the original thickness of Mala Tang broth eaten in mainland China.

A Mala Tang restaurant owner A in Bangbae-dong said, "There are a few people in China who drink Mala Tang broth. They just avoid it for health reasons because it is oily; it is a matter of preference." He added, "We also prepare rice to suit the tastes of Koreans who like broth." However, for Hot Pot, since franchise companies headquartered in China have entered Korea, there are both restaurants emphasizing the authentic taste of mainland China and those that have localized. Mr. Zhang (35), a Chinese resident in Korea, said, "Hot Pot broth is made for flavoring, so you don't have to drink the broth like a stew."

The Growing Hot Pot and Mala Tang Market in China

Chinese people enjoy Hot Pot and Mala Tang, and the market size is steadily increasing. According to the China Hot Pot Industry Market Status Survey and Development Prospect Analysis Report, the Hot Pot market size in China reached 975.8 billion yuan (approximately 185.95 trillion KRW) last year. Experts expect the Hot Pot market size to exceed 1 trillion yuan (approximately 190 trillion KRW) this year.

The Mala Tang market is relatively smaller compared to Hot Pot but is also growing. According to the In-depth Research and Investment Prospect Forecast Report on the Chinese Mala Tang Industry, the market size increased from 96.8 billion yuan (approximately 18.45 trillion KRW) in 2016 to 130.6 billion yuan (24.89 trillion KRW) in 2019. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Mala Tang market size decreased to 114.2 billion yuan (21.77 trillion KRW) in 2020 but rebounded to 129.1 billion yuan (24.61 trillion KRW) in 2021, 130.2 billion yuan (24.82 trillion KRW) in 2022, and 137.9 billion yuan (26.29 trillion KRW) last year. Experts predict it will exceed 150 billion yuan (28.59 trillion KRW) by 2026.